RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation has made crossing safety improvements at three intersections in
Alexander
County
.
NCDOT installed crossing signals and added gates at the intersection of
Hiddenite Church Road
(
State Road
1503) and the Alexander Railroad tracks in Hiddenite. The $221,452 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds from NCDOT.
In December 2007, NCDOT completed the installation of grade crossing signals and gates where
Craftmaster Road
(
State Road
1512) intersects with the Alexander Railroad tracks near Hiddenite. This $189,076 improvement project was also paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds from NCDOT.
Crossing signals and gates were also added at the intersection of
Wayfound Church Road
(
State Road
1500) and the tracks near Hiddenite. As with the other two projects, the federal government paid for 90 percent of the $226,690 cost with NCDOT covering the remaining 10 percent.
Alexander Railroad and NCDOT will split the expense to maintain the crossings.
Two freight trains travel through these crossings daily at speeds up to 20 miles per hour.
These
Alexander
County
projects are part of a comprehensive statewide program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Mechanical warning devices are now in place at more than 2,400 of North Carolina's 4,121 public at-grade crossings.
***NCDOT***
Contact:
Joan Bagherpour, 919-733-7245 x261
NCDOT Rail Division
